Round 18 of the Top 14 delivered another weekend of high-intensity rugby, as teams battled for crucial points in the race for playoff spots and survival. Stade Français lifted themselves off the bottom with a gritty win over La Rochelle, while Lyon held off a Toulon comeback to climb into the top six. Elsewhere, Pau stunned Racing 92 with a dominant away victory, Toulouse ran riot against Vannes, and Montpellier edged Castres in a tight contest.
With just a handful of rounds left, the stakes are rising, and every match is proving to be a test of resilience and execution.
Here’s a full recap of all the Round 18 action, results, and highlights:
STADE FRANÇAIS GRIND OUT WIN AS LA ROCHELLE’S SLUMP CONTINUES
Stade Français 22 – 17 La Rochelle (HT: 19-3)
Stade Français secured a crucial 22-17 victory over La Rochelle at Stade Jean-Bouin, lifting themselves off the bottom of the Top 14 table. Despite a late surge from the visitors, La Rochelle’s indiscipline and errors proved costly, extending their losing streak to six games. Zack Henry punished La Rochelle’s mistakes, slotting four penalties, while Samuel Ezeala crossed for Paris’ only try in the first half. La Rochelle’s struggles were compounded by Will Skelton’s early red card and Pierre Bourgarit’s misfiring lineout, which cost them seven lost throws. Although Quentin Lespiaucq’s try and a penalty try brought La Rochelle within striking distance late on, Stade Français held firm despite finishing the match with 12 men after Pierre-Henri Azagoh’s yellow card. The win moves Stade Français up to 11th place, while La Rochelle remain in crisis ahead of their next match against Castres.
STADE FRANÇAIS
- Try: Ezeala (30’)
- Conversions: Henry (31’)
- Penalties: Henry (9’, 15’, 20’, 36’, 45’)
LA ROCHELLE
- Tries: Lespiaucq (72’), Penalty Try (75’)
- Conversions: Hastoy (73’)
- Penalties: Hastoy (2’)
LYON SURVIVES TOULON FIGHTBACK TO CLIMB INTO TOP SIX
Lyon 27 – 20 Toulon (HT: 27-6)
Lyon held off a late Toulon surge to claim a vital 27-20 victory at Matmut Stadium Gerland, moving provisionally into the Top 14’s top six. A dominant first half, featuring a double from Arno Botha and tries from Peato Mauvaka and Theo Tchaptchet, saw Lyon race to a 27-6 halftime lead. Toulon struggled to break down Lyon’s defense until the closing stages, when Melvyn Jaminet and Jules Danglot crossed for late tries. However, their comeback fell short as Lyon’s defensive resilience saw them through. With this win, Lyon strengthens its playoff push, while Toulon’s four-match winning streak ends as they fail to secure a losing bonus point.
LYON
- Tries: Chat (18’), Tchaptchet (20’), Botha (25’, 39’)
- Conversions: Berdeu (19’, 40’)
- Penalties: Berdeu (4’)
TOULON
- Tries: Jaminet (70’), Danglot (75’)
- Conversions: Jaminet (71’, 76’)
- Penalties: Herve (7’, 12’)
MONTPELLIER HOLDS OFF CASTRES TO CLOSE IN ON TOP SIX
Montpellier 21 – 17 Castres (HT: 11-0)
Montpellier secured a hard-fought 21-17 victory over Castres at Stade Raoul-Barrière, snapping a three-game losing streak and moving closer to the Top 14’s playoff spots. A dominant first half saw Montpellier race to an 11-0 halftime lead, with Christopher Tolofua scoring the only try and Stuart Hogg and Hugo Reus adding penalties. A gifted try for Gabriel Ngandebe early in the second half extended Montpellier’s lead to 18-0, but Castres fought back through Santiago Arata and Théo Chabouni, reducing the gap to four points. Despite relentless late pressure, Montpellier’s defense held firm, denying Castres an equalizing score and securing a crucial home win.
MONTPELLIER
- Tries: Tolofua (22’), Ngandebe (41’)
- Conversions: Hogg (42’)
- Penalties: Hogg (8’, 13’), Reus (40’, 52’)
CASTRES
- Tries: Arata (47’), Chabouni (55’)
- Conversions: Fernandez (48’), Dumora (56’)
- Penalties: Dumora (71’)
PAU STUN RACING 92 WITH DOMINANT AWAY WIN
Racing 92 29 – 47 Pau (HT: 10-13)
Pau secured their first away win of the season in emphatic fashion, dismantling Racing 92 47-29 at Paris La Défense Arena. A second-half collapse from Racing saw Pau run riot, scoring 34 unanswered points in 30 minutes to move within striking distance of the Top 6. Racing started strong, with James capitalizing on a defensive error to give the hosts a 10-0 lead. However, Joe Simmonds kept Pau in touch with two penalties before Émilien Gailleton’s try on halftime shifted momentum, sending Pau ahead 13-10 at the break. A quick Racing maul try briefly restored their lead, but from the 50th minute onwards, Pau dominated, with Simmonds’ boot, a Williams try, and relentless attacking play piling on the points. Gailleton grabbed a second, and Grandidier sealed the rout, leaving Racing shell-shocked despite two late consolation scores from Tristan Tedder.
RACING 92
- Tries: James (16’), Habosi (43’), Tedder (71’, 80’)
- Conversions: Le Garrec (17’, 44’, 72’)
- Penalties: Le Garrec (7’)
PAU
- Tries: Gailleton (40’, 70’), Williams (61’), Grandidier (77’)
- Conversions: Simmonds (41’, 62’, 71’)
- Penalties: Simmonds (20’, 31’, 50’, 53’, 65’, 68’), Daubagna (74’)
TOULOUSE CRUSH VANNES IN DOMINANT DISPLAY
Toulouse 63 – 21 Vannes (HT: 35-7)
Toulouse ran riot at Ernest-Wallon, dismantling Vannes 63-21 with a nine-try spectacle. Despite missing key players due to international duty, the league leaders showcased their depth and attacking firepower, extending their winning streak to five games. The hosts took control early, with Jack Willis (5’) and Mathis Castro-Ferreira (9’) crossing in quick succession. Further tries from Guillaume Cramont (19’), Blair Kinghorn (33’), and a second for Willis (38’) put Toulouse in complete command at halftime (35-7). Vannes’ lone first-half response came through Moukoro (40’) off a driving maul. The second half saw more of the same, as Toulouse refused to ease off the gas. Pita Ahki (42’), Alexandre Lacombre (47’), Rodrigue Neti (68’), and Ange Capuozzo (71’) extended the lead in a ruthless attacking display. Vannes managed two second-half tries through Stephen Varney (57’) and Teta Vili (65’), but they never threatened Toulouse’s dominance.
TOULOUSE
- Tries: Willis (5’, 36’), Castro-Ferreira (9’), Cramont (19’), Kinghorn (33’), Ahki (42’), Lacombre (54’), Neti (68’), Capuozzo (71’)
- Conversions: Mallia (6’, 10’, 20’, 34’, 37’, 43’, 55’, 69’, 72’)
VANNES
- Tries: Moukoro (40’), Varney (57’), Vili (65’)
- Conversions: Taccola (41’), Surano (58’, 66’)
BORDEAUX DOMINATE PERPIGNAN IN HIGH-TEMPO CLASH
Perpignan 17 – 29 Union Bordeaux-Bègles (HT: 0-19)
Bordeaux-Bègles secured a clinical 29-17 victory over Perpignan at Stade Aimé Giral, with Jon Echegaray scoring the fastest try in Top 14 history just 10 seconds into the match. The visitors took full control in the first half, running in three unanswered tries and maintaining a rock-solid defensive line. Perpignan struggled to contain Bordeaux’s relentless attack, conceding further tries to Rohan van Rensburg (10’) and Sipili Falatea (30’) before halftime. The second half saw a Catalan fightback, as Joaquín Oviedo (50’) and Lucas Velarte (60’) capitalized on Bordeaux’s indiscipline to close the gap. However, despite a yellow card to Jonny Gray, Bordeaux held firm, with Matthieu Jalibert’s penalty (65’) and a late Connor Sa try (70’) sealing their fifth away win of the season. Jerónimo de la Fuente’s late effort gave Perpignan a consolation try, but the hosts slipped to 13th place, while UBB climbed to second in the standings.
PERPIGNAN
- Tries: Oviedo (44’), Velarte (49’), De la Fuente (77’)
- Conversions: Allan (50’)
UNION BORDEAUX-BÈGLES
- Tries: Echegaray (1’), Van Rensburg (18’), Falatea (29’), Sa (64’)
- Conversions: Jalibert (2’, 19’, 65’)
- Penalties: Jalibert (58’)
BAYONNE HOLDS OFF CLERMONT TO STRENGTHEN TOP 4 POSITION
Bayonne 31 – 18 Clermont (HT: 18-6)
Bayonne continued their dominance at home, defeating Clermont 31-18 at Stade Jean-Dauger to solidify their fourth-place standing in the Top 14. A strong first-half performance, including early tries from Paulos and Cormenier, set the tone, with Jules Gimbert’s late try sealing the win despite a spirited Clermont fightback. Segonds’ accurate kicking kept the hosts in control, while Clermont’s second-half surge, featuring tries from Fainga’a and Fall, wasn’t enough. Mori’s red card added late drama, but Bayonne’s defensive resilience secured a crucial victory. Bayonne extends their home unbeaten streak, heading into a crucial match against Stade Français, while Clermont, now outside the Top 6, faces a must-win clash against Racing 92 next weekend.
BAYONNE
- Tries: Paulos (4’), Cormenier (14’), Germain (76’)
- Conversions: Segonds (5’, 77’)
- Penalties: Segonds (25’, 47’), Germain (68’)
- Drop Goal: Segonds (35’)
CLERMONT
- Tries: Fainga’a (50’), Fall (63’)
- Conversions: Belleau (64’)
- Penalties: Urdapilleta (8’, 27’)
STANDINGS AFTER ROUND 18
That wraps up Round 18 of the Top 14. With the playoff race tightening and teams battling for survival, every match is becoming more crucial. Some clubs are hitting their stride at the right time, while others are struggling to keep pace in this fiercely competitive league.
What do you think of this weekend’s action? Which team impressed you the most? Share you thoughts in the comments below.
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